Amir Khan labels suspected crime boss Daniel Kinahan ‘one of the nicest guys’

Amir Khan labels suspected crime boss Daniel Kinahan ‘one of the nicest guys’ after he seemed to confirm he has NOT stepped away from boxing despite Panorama storm – but Brit’s comments are SLAMMED as a ‘PR disaster’

  • Amir Khan has labelled Daniel Kinahan as ‘one of the nicest guys’ he knows 
  • Kinahan was the subject of a BBC Panorama investigation, with the resultant television show broadcast last Monday
  • It has been alleged that Kinahan is a senior figure in an organised crime gang 
  • Irishman Kinahan, based in the UAE, has hit back, maintaining he is innocent
  • Kinahan was name-checked by Tyson Fury last year when announcing the deal to fight against British heavyweight rival Anthony Joshua 
  • Khan also insisted boxing needs ‘people like Dan’ in order to keep boxing alive 

Amir Khan has labelled suspected crime boss Daniel Kinahan as ‘one of the nicest guys’ he knows and detailed his ‘huge respect’ for his work in the boxing industry.

Kinahan, a one-time advisor to heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, has now reportedly confirmed that he remains involved in brokering ‘world title’ fights. He also waved away the allegations against him as being part of a ‘campaign’.

Despite the mounting public backlash facing Kinahan in the wake of a BBC Panorama investigation, Khan has today outlined his divisive opinions towards him – which were quickly met with fury on social media.

Kinahan (pictured) was named by the High Court in Dublin as a senior figure in an organised crime group

Boxer Amir Khan has labelled suspected crime boss Daniel Kinahan as ‘one of the nicest guys’

Kinahan, 43, who has no criminal convictions, was named by the High Court in Dublin as a senior figure in an organised crime group, which is suspected to be involved in drug-trafficking operations and other offences worldwide. 

It first emerged that Kinahan was still operating in the world of boxing after Fury claimed the Irishman had played a role in setting up his Joshua mega-fight last June.

Kinahan is one of the founders of MTK Global, a management company that represents Fury. 

Khan voiced his controversial opinion after Kinahan claimed he was still working in boxing

Khan voiced his controversial opinion after Kinahan claimed he was still working in boxing

Khan has taken to Twitter to voice his own thoughts on the matter.

He tweeted: ‘I’ve known Daniel for some time. I have huge respect for what he’s doing in boxing.

‘We need people like Dan to keep the sport alive. One of the nicest guys I’ve met.’ 

A large number of users on the social media platform have expressed their disgust with Khan’s stance, however.

One account labelled the tweet as a ‘PR disaster’ and urged Khan to ‘stay away’ from the subject.

‘You drop comments in places where you have no clue about anything,’ they added.

Another said: ‘Horrible, Amir. Need to do some research my friend. Check out the lives he’s devastated back in Ireland before you shill for him.’ 

‘Everybody please screenshot this for a year or two down the line when everyone in boxing pretends they had very little to do with Daniel and never met him in person etc,’ said a third user.

In an explosive statement released to talkSPORT on Monday, Kinahan protested his innocence. He has no criminal convictions.

Tyson Fury praised Kinahan last June for brokering his deal to fight fellow Brit Anthony Joshua

Tyson Fury praised Kinahan last June for brokering his deal to fight fellow Brit Anthony Joshua

‘I have dedicated myself to my work in boxing for over 15 years,’ he said. ‘I have started from the bottom and worked my way up. I am proud to say today that I have helped organise over a dozen major world title fights. I continue to be involved in planning multiple record-breaking and exciting world title fights.’    

He added: ‘I firmly believe that my success has led to an increase in the campaign against me. Pretty much anything can be said about me, or inferred about me, and it goes unchallenged and is sadly believed. 

‘I can’t be any clearer on the fundamental slur – I am not a part of a criminal gang or any conspiracy. I have no convictions. None. Not just in Ireland but anywhere in the world.’ 

MTK say that ties with Kinahan have been cut – although the BBC programme claimed that Kinahan still advises fighters working with the company. 

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